UFC’s Nick Diaz Meets Former ADCC Champ Braulio Estima at May 12 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo

Working in cooperation with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the expo takes place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. The event will host free seminars, as well as a question-and-answer session with some of the sport’s most recognizable figures, including Andre Galvao, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros and Roger Gracie. In addition to the 180-pound Diaz-Estima pairing, the expo will also feature the first WJJE tournament.

“We are excited to hold a tournament along with the IBJJF. [It] will be a great opportunity to see some of the sport’s best and most promising new fighters,” said WJJE president Renzo Gracie in an official release. “This event will bring together under one roof everyone and everything connected to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I believe this inaugural event is the beginning of what will quickly become one of the premier sporting expos in the world.”

Estima, 31, holds many accomplishments on the mat, winning the world jiu-jitsu championship three times (2004, 2006, 2009) and capturing gold in both the 194-pound (88 kg) and absolute divisions at the 2009 ADCC submission grappling world championship. Estima’s last ADCC appearance came in a 2011 “super-fight” with another former jiu-jitsu world champion in onetime Strikeforce king Ronaldo Souza, besting “Jacare” by a score of 3-0.

Though a BJJ black belt, Diaz is better known for his career in MMA. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion, Diaz fought Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight title on Feb. 4 at UFC 143, falling by unanimous decision to the onetime WEC pacesetter. Following the hard-fought contest, the Stockton, Calif., native had his post-fight drug test flagged for marijuana metabolites by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Diaz was temporarily suspended by the NAC on Feb. 22 and is still awaiting a hearing with the commission.